UNDERGROUND FEEDER

AND BRANCH-CIRCUIT CABLE Type UF 339-1. Description and Marking. (a) Description. Underground feeder and branch-circuit cable shall be an approved Type UF cable in sizes No. 14 copper or No. 12 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum through No. 4/0. The conductors of Type UF shall be one of the moisture-resistant types listed in Table 310-13 that is suitable for branch-circuit wiring or one that is identified for such use. In addition to the insulated conductors, the cable shall be permitted to have an approved size of insulated or bare conductor for equipment grounding purposes only. The overall covering shall be flame-retardant, moisture-, fungus-, and corrosion-resistant, and suitable for direct burial in the earth. (b) Marking. In addition to the provisions of Section 310-11, the cable shall have a distinctive marking on the exterior for its entire length specifying the cable type. 339-2. Other Articles. In addition to the provisions of this article, installations of underground feeder and branch-circuit cable (Type UF) shall comply with other applicable provisions of this Code, especially Article 300 and Section 310-13. 339-3. Use. (a) Uses Permitted. (1) Type UF cable shall be permitted for use underground, including direct burial in the earth, as feeder or branch-circuit cable where provided with overcurrent protection of the rated ampacity as required in Section 339-4. (2) Where single-conductor cables are installed, all cables of the feeder circuit, subfeeder circuit, or branch circuit, including the neutral and equipment grounding conductor, if any, shall be run together in the same trench or raceway. Exception: For solar photovoltaic systems in accordance with Section 690-31. (3) For underground requirements, see Section 300-5. (4) Type UF cable shall be permitted for interior wiring in wet, dry, or corrosive locations under the recognized wiring methods of this Code, and, where installed as nonmetallic-sheathed cable, the installation and conductor requirements shall comply with the provisions of Article 336 and shall be of the multiconductor type. Exception: Single-conductor cables shall be permitted as the nonheating leads for heating cables as provided in Section 424-43 and in solar photovoltaic systems in accordance with Section 690-31. Type UF cable supported by cable trays shall be of the multiconductor type. (FPN): See Section 310-10 for temperature limitation of conductors. 70-236 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (b) Uses Not Permitted. Type UF cable shall not be used (1) as serviceentrance cables; (2) in commercial garages; (3) in theaters; (4) in motion picture studios; (5) in storage battery rooms; (6) in hoistways; (7) in any hazardous (classified) location; (8) embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate, except where embedded in plaster as nonheating leads as provided in Article 424; (9) where exposed to direct rays of the sun, unless identified as sunlight-resistant. Exception: See Section 501-4(b), Exception. 339-4. Overcurrent Protection. Overcurrent protection shall be provided in accordance with provisions of Section 240-3. 339-5. Ampacity. The ampacity of Type UF cable shall be that of 60°C (140°F) conductors in accordance with Section 310-15.